Bombing at Oregon prosecutor's office probed as 'possible act of terrorism'

[News_Editor]

MEDFORD, OREGON (BNO NEWS) -- An improvised explosive device (IED) damaged a prosecutor's building in the U.S. state of Oregon on early Wednesday morning, causing no casualties but prompting an investigation by federal authorities into what was described as a "possible act of terrorism."

The incident happened at approximately 4:38 a.m. local time when witnesses in the city of Medford reported hearing an explosion outside a single-story building that houses the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Responding officers and firefighters found a propane tank on fire, sending flames up the outside of the building.

The blaze went out on its own but caused damage to the brick building, including broken windows and other exterior damage in addition to interior damage. Responding officers cordoned off the Jackson County Justice campus as it was searched for possible secondary devices, but none were found.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said initial reports indicate someone placed the propane tank next to the entrance of the Jackson County Attorney's Office and attempted to detonate it, but the tank only partially detonated. "The FBI is investigating this as a possible act of terrorism," she said. "That determination has not yet been made."

Greg Fowler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Oregon, said investigators are "fully committed" to finding the person or people responsible for Wednesday's bombing. "The explosive device was clearly intended to target a government facility, the DA's office," he said. "An attack on such a visible symbol of government and justice demands our singular focus."

It was not immediately clear whether the bomb was supposed to detonate at 4:38 a.m. or went off prematurely. Law enforcement sources told NBC News that investigators were seeking to determine whether the bombing was linked to two previous incidents involving IEDs in nearby Coos Bay. Those incidents happened in August and September at a Vietnam War Memorial and a local church, but neither device detonated.

Steele said the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were investigating Wednesday's blast in partnership with the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police (OSP).

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[Credo]

It seems like an unlikely place for a terrorist attack.

[Jingthing]

It seems like an unlikely place for a terrorist attack.

Not really if it's domestic terrorism.

[Credo]

I am assuming it is domestic terrorism. It still seems like an unlikely place.

[NeverSure]

This is the state prosecutor's office for the state (as opposed to federal) court. There is usually one in every county in every state with some exceptions. There is usually also a state court in the same town in that county. The prosecutor is elected by the people of the county. So it is a political figure. The person is colloquially called "the prosecutor" or the "district attorney."

If someone is P'd at the prosecutor's office, and sets off a bomb, I guess that's terrorism.

ter·ror·ism

ˈterəˌrizəm/

noun

noun: terrorism

1. 1.

   the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

[Steely Dan]

I assume if it is indeed an act of terrorism it will be of the 'domestic' variety; seeing as the 'T' word seldom gets volunteered by the media if it seems likely to be linked to foreign groups or individuals, and can't be linked to the Tea party.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Steely Dan

[Jingthing]

Anyway, it was a soft target and that seems to be the trend in all kinds of terrorism.

[Credo]

I assume if it is indeed an act of terrorism it will be of the 'domestic' variety; seeing as the 'T' word seldom gets volunteered by the media if it seems likely to be linked to foreign groups or individuals, and can't be linked to the Tea party.

I think you are getting mixed up with the other side of the pond. If they think it's terrorism, it will be labeled as terrorism.

[Somtamnication]

Oregon? Ok, white supremacists!! Not many Abdhuls live there!

[Chicog]

A disgruntled client perhaps.

[NxaiPan]

Isn't Medford nutjob central even by Oregon standards?